Saturday, July 31, 2004

BITTERSWEET REMEMBRANCE

Declare this an emergency
Come on and spread a sense of urgency
And pull us through
And pull us through
And this is the end, end
This is the end
Of the world

Muse - Apocalypse Please


I was invited to atten the annual Perasmian Ahli-ahli Baru PBSM today... I went without a high expectation on the performance of the current batch, since lately there seems to be a trend in the drop of quality plaguing all the extra-curriculum societies in secondary schools, probably due to the heavier emphasis on academics by the students. But I was plesently surprised that they did quite a remarkable job!

I'm most impressed with the hiasan (decoration) and cenderamata (souvenirs) committee. They really did an excellent job, and I have to admit that they did a better job in their areas than all the past 6 Perasmian I've been before (including 3 in which I was a commitee too). I did not pay much attention to the kawalan kehormat (Guard of Honour) ceremony (perhaps I'm still hurt about the past... I was the commander of the Guard of Honour once, and the year before that, I was in charged of leading in the reciting the oath), but I guess it's satisfactory. While the (boring) speeches were going on after that, I chatted around with my friends, all bekas now. None of them changed at all! Or at least, none that I noticed. Wonder if that's a good thing... My personality haven't changed much either since I graduated secondary school, though I did learned a lot since then... Guess it will take some time to find out if they've grown or not!

The performances by the new members were not bad either, though a bit inconsistent. The 1st traditional chinese dance is very refreshing, as they perform a totally different dance the same old fan dance so often performed in the past. The "chi ling" performance at the end was quite impressive and amusing too. The choir sang too softly however, and lacks expressions and sincerity. The drama on "Kwang Hua Idol" was juz too cliche and too much slapstick. But overall, not bad! The food was the most disappointing... There were juz too few choices! But since the school authorities have limited the budget (we used to spend RM 1000+ to organize the Perasmian annually) this time around, I guess I couldn't really blame them la...

For all the time I spent there miggling around with the new members and my old pals, I can't help but remembering all the bittersweet (ultimately bitter) experieces I have in the society for the past few years. How I first found somewhere I belong, and all the seniors I looked up to like heroes, and all the glory I gained from my gradual rising in position within the society... and the ultimate pain when I decided that it's best for me to stop being an AJK after suffering much disagreement with the majority. I loved the club so much then, but I juz can't stand all the ugly inner politics, and I'm forced to stop serving the club that gave me so much joy b4 bcuz I juz can't stand the crushing disappointment and bitter humiliation anymore... Sigh... It's kinda odd for me to talk to some of my ex-"colleagues" now, for eventhough I've forgiven them, the pain and the humiliation have scarred me so deeply than I guess I can nv forget them and the people that caused them to me...

Thomas, snap out of it! Stop being so melodramatic! That's so not u! The past is the past now! Bury the hatchet! Look forward to ur bright future! Bla bla bla... Anyway, I really enjoyed the whole ceremony today (though I skip the games part... dun want to get myself sweaty!), and I'm looking forward for the Perasmian next year! Though I'm still kinda hurt on wat that have happened in the past, still I will always cherish the beautiful memories I have b4 I become an AJK. Great job, PBSM SL(Y) 8 Kwang Hua! Keep it up!

PRE-TRIP SYNDROME

Funny, I spent my holidays (well, those that has passed, at least) wishing I'm doing something productive or enjoyable, and now that I'll be going to Tioman for scuba diving on Monday (Or shud I say VERY late Sunday? The bus will leave Pudu around 11.45pm), why am I feeling... reluctant? I dun even have the mood to buy and pack all the stuff that I need! Worse, I'm kinda worry about going there! Maybe it's bcuz this is the 1st time that I'm going for a trip that is not organized completely by someone else, that we dun pay for everything in a package (we'll pay for the accomdation ourselves when we're there, we'll buy for the bus and ferry tickets when we'll there, we'll pay extra if we wanna do another open water diving etc), and any unexpected events may distrupt the fun? Yea, probably...

Also, maybe bcuz it's my parents... I've told them LONG ago that I wanted to do scuba diving for my elective. They were quite reluctant at first, but give the OK sign eventually... So wat's wrong now? They can't stop complaining that how hard they have worked all day and here I am, enjoying myself all the time! WAT?! I've juz went thru a really exhausting exam period, so can't I take a month off enjoying myself? Then they'll go, "U should be teaching ur bro n sis! They're having major exams this year (UPSR & SPM)! See how hard we work all for u guys, did we ever complain about it? No! We work so that u guys can..." and it goes on and on. Argh... It's tough living with parents who are workoholics! But well, experience has taught me that this is a normal process (at least for me), and I know that I'll enjoy this eye-opening trip for sure... So I guess I'll juz ignore this uncomfortable feeling for now la.

 
Anyway, went to 1 Utama to watch I, Robot with some SOS members juz now. It's the 1st time I'm back to 1U for awhile, and man the new building is really impressive! And as for I, Robot, well, my earlier assumption was both right and wrong. I initially hesitated to watch the movie, for the filmakers did mentioned it's based loosely on Isaac Asimov's book (with the same title), and I'm a big fan of Isaac Asimov. But the problem is, many reviewers has criticized the movie for bearing very little resemblance to Asimov's work. After I've watched the LoTR movies (hated them), I'm seriously worried that Hollywood has butchered another book by a great author.

As it turns out, the movie is pretty decent. Not worthy of Asimov, but at least I dun feel that the movie has insulted my intelligence. The final revelation in the movie was pretty cliche though, but still, it can be worse. The few things that I dun like about the movie:

1. As Roger Ebert puts it:
When they team up against the eventual villain, it's an obvious ploy to create yet another space where characters can fall for hundreds of feet and somehow save themselves.
I find the obvious arrangement of the settings very distracting. There are a few events that happen conveniently in particular settings so that some "cool" matrix-ish action scenes can take place. PLS, no more Matrix-style scenes! I'm SO fed up with it!!!

2. I hate Will Smith. Nv like him, and I guess I nv will. He's always trying so hard to be cool when he so NOT cool. ARGH... Can't stand his "loud"ness too, though I have to admit, he has one cool line in the movie (Watch out for the sneezing part.. Dun wanna spoil the movie for u guys who haven't watched it!).

But like I've said, it's a decent movie. Worth a watch. But I'll strongly recommend you to read Isaac Asimov's book. Much better than the movie, trust me! Same goes for The Lord of The Rings! Peter Jackson's version totally murdered it.

 
Also bought the VCD of Clue while I was there at 1U. It's based on the popular detective board game with the same title (known as Cluedo for the British version). I'm a huge fan of that board game, and ever since I've played the Murder Game at Broga Camp, my interest in mystery has been revived, which explains how I ended up with the 1985 movie VCD. I knew it is funny, but I really nv expect it to be that funny! It is mostly wordplay and a bit of slapstick, and the humor has a British feel with it. It's an instant classic for me! After I've watched the show, I really feel like playing the board game again. Man, talk about positive feedback!!

Hey, since it's the Mega Sales Carnival now, maybe I should buy the board game! Heard that there's some change of rules! Okie, I'll check it out as soon as I return from Tioman! >=)

Tuesday, July 27, 2004

THE RAVEN

Argh, I'm dead bored! Nothing much happened lately, so I'll juz post up 1 of my fav poem. If only there are more Gothic poets out there... Sigh... Anyway, check this out:


* * * * * * * * * *


The Raven
by Edgar Allan Poe
First Published in 1845

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door."
'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door;
Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember, it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow, sorrow for the lost Lenore.
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore,
Nameless here forevermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me---filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,"
'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door,
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door.
This it is, and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is, I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you." Here I opened wide the door;---
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into the darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word,
"Lenore?", This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word,"Lenore!"
Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping, something louder than before,
"Surely," said I, "surely, that is something at my window lattice.
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore.
Let my heart be still a moment, and this mystery explore."
'Tis the wind, and nothing more."

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven, of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door.
Perched upon a bust of Pallas, just above my chamber door,
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly, grim, and ancient raven, wandering from the nightly shore.
Tell me what the lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore."
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning, little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door,
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."

But the raven, sitting lonely on that placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered; not a feather then he fluttered;
Till I scarcely more than muttered, "Other friends have flown before;
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.
"Then the bird said, "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master, whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster, till his songs one burden bore,---
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never---nevermore."

But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore --
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore                                      
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

Thus I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl, whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee -- by these angels he hath
Sent thee respite---respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, O quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!--prophet still, if bird or devil!
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate, yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted--
On this home by horror haunted--tell me truly, I implore:
Is there--is there balm in Gilead?--tell me--tell me I implore!"
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil--prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that heaven that bends above us--by that God we both adore--
Tell this soul with sorrow laden, if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden, whom the angels name Lenore---
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels name Lenore?
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting--
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! -- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming.
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted---nevermore!

* * * * * * * * * *


shivers...


Saturday, July 24, 2004

FAV QUOTES FROM MEMENTO

I've posted an entry for my fav quotes from The Silence of The Lambs b4, and since that Christabel has posted her fav quotes from Memento on her blog, I figured that I should do the same on mine. After all, Memento has some memorable quotes:

Teddy: Was he scared?
Leonard: Yeah, I think it was your sinister moustache.

Natalie: What's the last thing that you do remember?
Leonard: My wife...
Natalie: That's sweet.
Leonard: ...dying.

Leonard: Memory can change the shape of a room; it can change the color of a car. And memories can be distorted. They're just an interpretation, they're not a record, and they're irrelevant if you have the facts.

Leonard: Memory's unreliable. No no no, really. Memory's not perfect; it's not even that good. Ask the police. Eyewitness testimony is unreliable. Cops don't catch a killer by sitting around remembering stuff. They collect facts, they make notes, and they draw conclusions. Facts, not memories. That's how you investigate. I know. It's what I used to do. Look, memory can change the shape of a room; it can change the color of a car. And memories can be distorted. They're just an interpretation, they're not a record, and they're irrelevant if you have the facts.

Leonard: So how... how can I heal? How am I supposed to heal if I can't... feel time?

Natalie: Is that what your little note says? It must be hard living your life off a couple of scraps of paper. You mix your laundry list with your grocery list you'll end up eating your underwear for breakfast.

Leonard: These tracks are just a few days old.
Teddy: What are you, Pocahontas?

Leonard: I can't remember to forget you.

And the best line:

Leonard: I don't feel... drunk...

SEM 1 RESULTS OUT!

There I was yesterday, stuck in a stupid trafic jam, horribly anxious about my results. Called up Christabel, and found out that the results were out already! Worse still, it was raining outside. My whole legs went soft like jelly, my adrenal medulla depleted all the source of catecholamines, my heart beats became irregular and bla bla bla. In short, I'm DEAD nervous! And the stupid traffic jam makes it worse!

Finally reached IMU after 15 minutes delay. Saw all the SOS memebers at Food Ave, all with cheerful faces. All of them pass then! Hooray! Praise God! Now let's juz hope I pull it off... Off I ran to the MPH, then realizing that the ppl have moved to AAD, I rushed there to get my results. Got the paper, tear out the edge... and, well... I'm both glad and slightly disappointed.

Got all A's for my Summative 1, Summative 2, and End of Semester 1 Finals. I've achieved my goals, but there's juz this one tiny little ugly spot... For the End of Semester, there are 2 components: Short Answer Questions (SAQ) and Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE). Earlier, I mentioned that I'm more confident in scoring my SAQ compared to OSPE... Turns out that I did better in OSPE... Got an A- for my SAQ!!!! Argh... So there it is, that stupid A- marring the rest of the results, juz as my Chinese Language marred my PMR and SPM and Physics and Mathematics of Data Management marred my CPU results!

I'm indeed very thankful that I've passed (with flying colours, I guess), but I can nv forgive myself for that A-. I know that I CAN get an A for my SAQ, but heck what went wrong? I guess there's only 1 conclusion... I haven't been studying hard enough! And considering that Sem 1 is the easiest semester in IMU, and the fact that I can't even get an A for my SAQ, I seriously need to push myself further for the coming 2 semesters (that have "killed" so many med students, I must add). But for now...

HOLIDAY!!! Yuck... Now that I've lost all sorts of anticipation since the results are out, I seriously hope (in vain) that my holidays will be productive (some case here as urs, Heng Jeng)!. I have some plans in mind already, and let's hope that I can execute them!

1. Bible study - Gonna do an in-depth bible study this time around. I've always juz read it thru and nv throughoutly think and analyze the passages. Gonna take down notes and write summaries this time! Not to mentioned memorizing some helpful verses! I've started the 1st 3 chapters of Romans adi, and everything seems promising so far!

2. Relearn my guitar - After searching hopelessly for my lost tenancy agreement for the past few days, I've accidentally found my old Guitar beginners manuscript. Started to feel a pang of sadness and regret that I have to stop learning guitar halfway thru my form 5 (my parents force me to focus solely on SPM and drop everything else), I figured that I can relearn all the skills that I've forgotten. Now all I need is to fiz up my guitar again! Gonna buy the strings soon!

3. Taichi catch up - Got lots of catching up to do for Tai Chi... Man, Chu Kin, Robert, and Jee Ken have finished learning all the 108 steps already! And I've only started learning yesterday! Juz reached the 57th step today, and half more to go! I seriously dowan to be left behind in class, so gotta work really hard now!!!

4. Enjoy my elective! - I guess that I would definitely do. After all, can scuba diving be dull and boring? Hope everything goes well with the trip... Still dun hear any news for the elective so far from Paul, Thaven or Gowri... Hmmmm...

5. Be optimistic about my visit to India - Gonna fly to India around mid-August with my uncle to attend my cousin's graduation at Manipal Medical College. Well, I'm both very excited and very anxious of the trip. Excited, bcuz I really wanna explore Manipal and get to know my cousin's life there, and also observe some of India's culture. Anxious, bcuz I'm seriously picky when it comes to food... I can't stand green vege, I can't stand spicy food (not even the slightest), and I can't stand lots of other stuff... So well, let's hope I dun starve during my visit!  

6. Watch good movies and animes! - Memento, Cowboy Bebop and Trigun have been really enjoyable so far. Looking forward for Pulp Fiction, Gone With The Wind and Edward Scissorhands next! Still searching for a potentially excellent anime title! Gonna search for the titles at Chow Kit Road and Sungei Wang Plaza!

And there u have it! My plans for the holiday! Hopefully all goes well!


Wednesday, July 21, 2004

HOLIDAYS CAN BE SO DULL

Man... 1 week has barely pass since the finals, I've already started to dislike the boring holiday. Juz spent my entire day sleeping, watching anime, sleeping, reading, sleeping, eating, sleeping... U get the picture. Well, the camp was fun, Memento and Cowboy Bebop: Knocking on Heaven's Door are a joy to watch, but still, I spent most of my holiday... wasting my time. Got lost on my way to MidValley and coming back from there yesterday... Man it was one crazy ride with Bouncer in my car... Nv knew he can be so blur when it comes to direction... Sheesh...  
 



 
Anyway, I'm really glad that I've finally found the DVD I've been searching so long for: Memento. Watching it for the 2nd time, I was surprised that the movie still has the power to shock me. And I nv realized it was so twisted in my 1st watch of it... And I really mean that it is seriously twisted. I actually felt sick and slightly nauseous when the movie finally ends, and there's a knotlike-feeling in my stomach... Still, I most definitely will watch it again... There are some parts that still dun really makes much sense to me, thanks to its insane narrative structure of that butcher all sense of time. 


 
As for Cowboy Bebop the Movie: Knocking on Heaven's Door... I must say that I'm really impressed, though it took me quite some time to adjust excessive use of CG animation in the movie. Well, I always prefer traditional water painting over any computer animation, but still, some of the effects are gorgeous to behold. The attention to details are incredible, but can be really tiring to the eyes at times. The fight scenes are the reason why I bought the DVD, and man can Spike kick ass!! And the whole movie juz simply ooze with style!! Watching the whole thing was a great 2 hour well-spent! But it's only 2 hours long... until the holidays... almost infinite... Sigh...
 
Man, I hope all this boredom will end soon!!!

Monday, July 19, 2004

BROGA CAMP (PART 2)

B4 I begin, Heng Jeng has posted some pictures of Broga Camp on the web. Check it out!
 
I was one of the earliest guy to wake up in the camp. The peaceful scenery of the morning was gorgeous. The green hills (1 with a bare area filled only with grass - kinda look like a golf course - it was said that it was bare bcuz the Communist used to test their cannons on that area of the hill), the clear blue sky, the misty air surrounding the camp site... Man I miss that serene moment. Practised my Tai Chi then, and still can't help but forget certain steps... Argh... Need more practice! Do some stretching and jogging after that, under Heng Jeng and Lawrence's direction. 
 
After breakfast, we were divided into 3 groups to do 3 different activities in 3 different time slots. My group started off with the obstacle course. It was much like ur typical obstacle course, but with a few very important exceptions:
 
1. We cannot come into contact with most of the surface of the obstacles, except for the ones which are necessary and permitted. All vertical planks are to be avoided.
 
2. One person in the group have to carry a rather long bamboo stick with him/her, and the bamboo stick has to go thru the obstacle course juz as we do. The stick cannot come into contact of any of the obstacles, and also cannot touch the ground.
 
3. Failure to follow the 1st 2 rules will result in the ENTIRE groupto start over from the VERY 1ST station (we have 14 stations altogether), even if only 1 of the member did the mistake.
 
From the above 3 rules stated, I guess it was quite clear that the obstacle course was no breeze. We did break one of the rule once, halfway thru the course, but the facitilator was nice to us and let us start over from that station instead of starting all over again (thenn again, maybe it's bcuz we were too slow and other groups were arriving... heehee). Tarzan cross was the most memorable,  as some of us got pretty wet bcuz they can't pull themselves up and straighten themselves up in time! Glad to say that I made it thru without a spill! Oh, and the plank walk around the lake was damn exhilarating too!
 
Next came Flying Fox. That is one thing that I've LONGED to do as far as I could remember. The facitilator has earlier briefed us on how to wear the safety harness, and I have to confess, it was kinda uncomfortable around the crotch (no, I'm not copying a line from Spiderman 2). There were these 2 straps that ran over the top of the inguinal canal (refer to Netter's Atlas of Human Body), which.. er.. was very uncomfortable to my.. er.. u-know-wat. Anyway, after climbing a long stairway 60 feet high (I guess it's about 8 to 10 floors high), the view from the top was quite frightening. After one of the helper tied 2 straps from the cords to my safety harness, he asked me to sit at the very edge of the plank. Man, the downward view was horrifying. Ur legs were dangling on the air, and below you is a huge pond waiting for u to fall...
 
Get to chat with the helper while waiting for the ppl on the opposite shore to slow down my fall. Found out the bunch of guys who came to help out are from Klang, Grace Assembly Klang to be exact. In fact, I knew 1 of them from MUET last year in Taylor's! It's really a small world! After everything was ready, the helper blowed his whistle, and asked me to slowly move my butt to the edge of the plank. Shit I was damn scared then. When I was finally off the plank, I started to slide downwards. It was kinda frigtening at 1st, but I soon started to enjoy the thrill and managed to let go off my hand from the harness! Man that was fun! After a few seconds, I reached the end of the course, and 4 of my group members pulled the break pulley to slow me down. After I came down, I replaced my team mates in charged of the braking pulley and started doing the braking.
 
The 3rd activity was the High Rope Crossing, which is certainly the scariest of the 3. Yet, I have to say that it was perfectly safe, for at all times, we have at least one safety cord attach to our safety harness. And well, walking on juz a strand of rope with another on top of u to hold on to 20 feet high up was really freaky and tiring. Still, after completing all the rope crossing, bridge crossing, tyre climbing etc, I can't help but felt a sense of achievement! Man I feel like an elf walking all over the trees! And our group seems to be particularly lucky in this event. One of our members, Victoria, have her harness lock stuck twice, i.e. she can't change her safety cord after she reached the end of each section. Our group leader Lawrence gotta save a damsel in distress twice!
 
I was really starved by the end of the 3 activities, and consume loads of food bcuz of it (eventhough they're not exactly delicious). Also got a really severe sunburn too (kinda look like a charcoal now). After a much-deserved rest, we played all sorts of card games and singing outside our dome. Unlike yesterday, both sems really mix around this time, and I was really glad about it. Gotta know a lot ppl better then, even ppl from my own batch. Nv really talk to Van Gee and Kang Meng b4. Oh and Bernard's revelation of his one year referral is really interesting! Oh, we also get to play Electric Murder after dinner too. That was 1 cool game!
 
At night, we played the Murder Game. A cook working under the Smith family was murdered, and each group has to go to different locations to investigate and also interrogate the suspects. The game was conducted in OSPE style, i.e. each group starts off at different "stations", either interrogating a suspect or investigating a room (there's even a rest station!), and after we have gather all the infomation, we have to come up with the solution of who was the murderer, what was his/her motive, and what was the murder weapon. The game was really fun and have an air of suspense with it, since it was conducted in a moonless night and we need our torchlight to shine around. Everything was planned out really well too (hurray for Aiky!), and the acting skills by the "suspects" were excellent (Shawn is 1 of the best actor I've seen! He actually shed tears!)
 
At the end of the game, each group comes up with their conclusion of the murder case. Man, some of the groups have the most creative and ingenious explanation of the clues! There were some that were really hilarious (Jasper, after he saw the dead body, started smoking and threw it at the floor), and others that were really melodramatic (jealousy and vengeance). But in the end, it turns out that the other groups based too much on assumption for their conclusion, and our group, who based our conclusion on the evidence, came out with the closest resemblance to the actual conclusion. Once again, all hail the Radical Rambutans! In fact, we were the only group that accuse the right murderer, Ah Chong the garderner!
 
Played a few games and chatted straight thru late at night after that, and got to sleep quite late. Can't wake up early in the next morning (man i miss my Tai Chi practise time!) Played Captain Ball for awhile (our group won again!), have breakfast, a debriefing session, and then pack up and leave. Man I was really sad then (and still am now) that the days past by so fast. Reached IMU safely in one piece (Tim was not so lucky.. Met an accident halfway and have to report to the police!). After lunch at Food Ave, I went straight back home...
 
Phew, finally finish the rather long entry! Well, the experience was really memorable, and I'll really cherish it for the rest of my life! Really hope that I can go for another camp like this! But b4 that, I 1st have to get my scuba diving lisence at Tioman for my elective! Hooray, I see a fun-filled holiday ahead!!!

Saturday, July 17, 2004

BROGA CAMP (PART 1)

Man... I've expected Broga Camp to be fun, but I nv expect it to be one of the high points of my life!!! It was definitely one of the best 3 days spent in my life. The only reason I dun blog about it as soon as I returned from the camp is bcuz the phone line at my house somehow goes kaputt! 

Well I'll try to blog starting from day 1... I was the last 1 to reach IMU on the 1st day (Wednesday), but since I was 1 of the drivers to the Broga Camp, no one complains (thank God!). Reached the camp site after about 40 minutes drive and passing thru a really narrow and twisted road. The camp site is 8 km away from a decent town, Semenyih, and there's a small settlement around the camp site. How the small community survives in a place so far from "civilization", I have no idea.
 
The 1st thing we see when we reach the gate of the camp site was the flying fox structure. Man, it's tall! It is 60 feet high, and about 200+ feet across, passing by a pond. Other than that strudture, everything looks kinda... disappointing. Some of us were beginning to worry that we've made a wrong choice in going there... We couldn't have been more mistaken.
 
After a short briefing and unpacking, we began the ice-breaking session. I was kinda horrified when I realized that we'll be playing the Disease Game. That is 1 of the lamest game I've ever came across, yet it seems to be quite popular among the sem 3 seniors... Anyway, it was ok, and we went for lunch soon, which is quite decent (for 1 who is very picky on his food, this is a great compliment!). And then, the 1st activity begins... RAFTING!! 
 
At 1st, I thought that all we have to do is juz to sit in a raft and paddle it, and seeing the small pond, I was kinda skeptic that it will be fun. Again, I was dead wrong. Each group was supposed to BUILD THEIR OWN RAFT!!! We were given 4 thick bamboos, 7 thin bamboos, 4 blue plastic containers filled with air, 20 short red rafia strings and 8 long yellow rafia strings. The objective: Design our own raft, built it, paddle it on the pond to the other side, pluck a leaf there, jum down from the raft and push the raft back shore. The facitilator gave us a few tips, and then, we start to brainstorm on the design of the raft.  

All 3 groups came out with different designs. The Bouncing Bananas designed a raft that was long and narrow, while my team, the Radical Rambutans, and the Marvellous Mangosteens, built the rafts more or less square in shape (The Lost Langsats was broke up and joined to the other 3 teams, since we need more people in each team). After 30 minutes of hardwork, we get to test our raft on the pond.  
 
Guess what? Our team was the only one whose raft dun fall apart soon after the raft was pushed into the pond, and we made it safely to the other shore by paddling alone! The long raft that the Bouncing Bananas built fell apart soon after it was moved onto the pond. The Marvellous Mangosteens weren't very successful either, for they have problem keeping the containers that keep that raft afloat in place. We were paddling our way towards the opposite shore, laughing at the other groups all the way. After we plucked a leaf, we jumped down from the raft and pushed the raft back to the shore where we began. The pond wasn't very deep, so we kinda waded our way back. The soft slimy mud we stepped all the way back has a very unpleasent effect on all of us, as we were all clearly very disgusted by it. After we made it back to the shore, we deconstruct the raft and put everything back to where it belongs... and our group won, of cuz! >=)
 
We started playing Captain Ball soon after that, but too bad, it began to rain. What was interesting about the rain was that we could actually see the stormclouds moving from the top of the mountains, and the rain slowly moving towards us. That was truly a wondrous sight to behold. Since we can't play the ball game, we started to play cards and chit chat at the planks outside our dorm. Since it's the 1st day we were day, the sem 1 and the sem 3 were still quite separated, and we mixed among our own batch more than interacting with the other.
 
Then an even more interesting thing happens... Two archs of rainbow appears!!! And they're much more closer and clearer than all the rainbows that I've seen in my life! It was so gorgeously beautiful, I was juz standing there for about 5 minutes or so starting at it, completely taken away by its beauty, and reminded of God's covenant with Noah after the flood. In fact, it was so beautiful that I begged my friends to take pictures of it, since I dun bring a camera withh me!
 
At night after dinner, we played the Auction Game. We were supposed to use at least 4 items to build something that can catch a ball after it is thrown from shoulder height. The items must be bought from an auction, but the catch was that we can only see the items we bought after they are sold to us, i.e. Aiky only mentioned wat the item for auction, and so they may be a bit misleading. Well, in the end, all the groups built all kinds of weird looking structures, but most of us succeed in catching the ball! My group's structure is one with a ring of cloth on top and a flat piece of dining mat and platic bag at the bottom and strings and strips of cloth around the side, tieing the cloth and mat together. Our group did so well, Lawrence (our group leader) actually challenged the other groups for a tougher game. Thank God our structure was really good and we didn't make a fool of ourselves then!
 
B4 I went to bed, I got to learn a new card game - Bridge! I've heard of it for quite a number of times already, but nv really get to learn it until now. It's really very interesting and addictive game, and also it has a rather different rules than other card games. Really looking forward to play more of it in the future!
 
Heck, I've blog much already, but this is juz the 1st half of the whole thing! There's still the obstacle course, flying fox and high rope crossing to blog about! Guess I'll blog about those another time!


Tuesday, July 13, 2004

EOS 1 IS HISTORY!

Yeehaa! EOS 1 is over, and 2 months of holiday a'coming! Well, that is, for ppl who pass their test, of cuz. And man, I really dun understand why the seniors sez that OSPE is easier than SAQ. I find it much tougher than SAQ, that's for sure. Unlike SAQ, where u can either know the answer or at least part of it, in OSPE, u either can answer and get full marks, or otherwise. U know, all or nothing. I guess many ppl prefer OSPE bcuz it's involves more memorizing and recalling then SAQ's understanding element. And well, I'm really bad in memorizing, so...

Still, I'm quite confident I can pass... But I sure hope I can score... I was pretty confident yesterday that I could, but not quite so now... But well, what done is done. So I'll juz enjoy myself b4 I get my results next Friday. Going to Broga Camp tomorrow... So I guess I won't be updating my blog till I return next Friday!

Well, I need to pack my stuff now... And Tai Chi "test" next... *Grunt* Man I'm exhausted... Too much activities right after the finals!

Monday, July 12, 2004

1/2 OVER!

Well, half of EOS, the SAQ paper, is over now. It was OK. Not exactly tough, yet not exactly a breeze either. My main worry b4 I enter the exam hall was that I won't have sufficient time to finish all the questions, but it turns out that the allocated time is juz right. However, in order to finish in time, I have to say that my writing was horrible... Juz hope the examiner can tolerate it! Did some careless mistakes too... But I guess it'll be ok. Quite certain that if everything goes right with OSPE, I'll pass sem 1!

Now that SAQ is history, the only remaining thing to worry about is OSPE tomorrow. Well, I can't exactly study anymore now, but heck, I'll force myself to read thru SOMETHING anyway. Apparently OSPE is the easy test that could pull up ones marks, and a senior friend of mine even described OSPE as something of a gameshow. U'll do ur question on a station for 5 minutes, the buzzer goes off (u can hear ppl exclaim in shock and pens dropping on the floor), everyone goes to the next station, and the cycle repeats. Hey, that sounds fun! Provided if I can answer the questions that is... Oh wateva. I'll juz do my best now and leave the rest to God!

Alritey, time to study now!

Wednesday, July 07, 2004

SPIDERMAN 2 LOOPHOLE!

I juz realized that there's something wrong in Spider-man 2. For those that haven't watch the movie and dun want to be spoiled about it, STOP READING THE CURRENT ENTRY!!!

All right, so we know that Harry Osbourne trade the metal thingie (tritanium or watever) with Doc Ock, and in exchange he wants Doc Ock to bring Spidey to him alive, so he can have his sweet revenge. And of cuz, Doc Ock needs to find Peter Parker 1st to know where Spidey is (since he dunno that Peter is actually Spidey and it's only logical that as Spidey photographer, Peter is the 1st guy to look out for).



Why then, does Doc Ock throws a car at Peter who is in a restaurant with his back towards the window when there's almost 100% certainty he'll be smashed or crushed to death if he's a normal human being that Doc Ock thinks he is? What's the point of killing Peter Parker when he wanna get Spidey thru Peter Parker? Ahha! There u have it, a plot hole/loophole or watever u call it!

Well, by now u must have think how ingenious I am that I'm able to work out this flaw. To be honest, I'm not the one that notice this! Heehee... I read it from a review by Jeffrey Chen. Oh how I wish the credit will be mine! Haha...

WRAPPING UP

Well, 5 more days to the Finals. I'm wrapping up all my studies now, and thank God that I can make it in time. Went thru the Q&A session this morning, and I'm glad that I can answer most of the questions concerning the stuff that I've studied. I still have respiratory system and a little of cardiavascular system to study, but I guess I'll finish Summative 1 stuff by Friday. I'll read thru Summative 2 stuff again on the weekends, and then I'll face the finals.

However, I can't help but wondering if I've taken everything too lighly now. I kinda suspect that I'm a bit overconfident on my preparation, but then, I'm always overcautious and paranoid... Anyway, I believe that everything will probably go well for the Finals. And after that, I'll have the time of my life for the next 2 months of holidays!!! Perhaps I'll go for the Broga Camp too!!!

Many of the sem 3's dun do well in the finals... Apparently only 19 out of 194 that actually PASS their OSPE. Sigh... this is both sad and scary leh... Some said that it's bcuz their the worst batch in IMU currently, but I have to disagree with that. I think that they're quite a hardworking bunch, and I suspects that it's the system that is not right... I guess all will be known on Friday, when the results is out... Man, I actually worry for them more than my own finals!

I really hope that all of my Sem 3 friends can pass that EOS 3, but I do know that about half of them failed... Sigh... Well, I guess in times like these, u can only leave everything into God's hands and juz pray about it...

Monday, July 05, 2004

FAITH ON SUPERHEROES MOVIES RESTORED



Some time ago, I mentioned that I've lost my faith on silver screen interpretation of comic superheroes (May 8th 2004 entry). Well, I take that back after I've watched Spider-man 2 today! Man, I heard it was good, but I nv expect a comic superhero movie adaptation could be THAT good! It is EXCELLENT! I love all the characters (with the exception of one, which I'll mention later), and the show actually move me at certain parts!

One of the reason I hated most superheroes movies is my inability to sympatize with any of them. Neither Clark Kent aka Superman nor Bruce Wayne aka Batman are very interesting and complex character, but Peter Parker aka Spiderman is one dysfunctional superhero whose crumbling life everyone who is and was a youth can relate too. Also, the colourful supporting cast really makes the movie shines too, Aunt May, Mary Jane etc, and all the love/hate relationship thingie surrounding all the characters are amazingly complex and wonderful to watch.

The villain Dr. Otto Octavius, however, is the exception. He's rather... flat. Unhappy scientist once to revive his failed creation eventhough by he knows that by doing so he'll destroy the city bla bla bla... Man, must villains be so cliche? Can't they have more likeable villain like Magneto? He's one villain that I really rooted for, since I kinda supported his agenda (kill all the stupid humans. We mutants are the future! Than there will be no more war!) He's ideal is so much more realistic than Professor Xavier's one. And that is also one reason why I prefer Japanese manga/anime over western comics. Both hero and villain are more like shades of gray than either black(evil) or white(good).

Also, the movie is slightly preachy at times too. It's not necessary bad, but it's kinda distracting and slightly annoying. But then, the good far outweighs the bad, for I've seriously nv expected a movie based on a comic to be THIS good! I love the way it emphasizes more on character development/interaction than mindless bashing. Not to say that it is devoid of any action scenes, mind u. In fact, I throughoutly enjoy all the fight scenes between Spidey and Dr Ock. The special effects are quite impressive, but I'm glad that it's not so overused it overshadows the heart of the movie!

Overall, it's a great cinematix experience. And I will definitely be waiting eagerly for the release of Spiderman 3!!! Oh btw, I really adore all the beautiful comic book drawings during the opening sequence, showing scenes from the 1st Spiderman movie (great idea for a recap!). And the guy who plays Jonah Johnson, the fast-talking, unethical boss of Peter Parker, is made for that role. All of his scenes are nothing short of outrageously funny! Really enjoyed it all!

Also, I've watched 3 episodes of Trigun already. Have to say that it's the funniest 3 episodes of anime I've seen so far. The series definitely seems promising!

Sunday, July 04, 2004

MIDNIGHT DRIVE

I was coming back from IMU around 11.30pm after much studying, when I suddenly have this strange urge to do something crazy. I entered my room, and I felt that I seriously dowan to be where I was then... And suddenly an idea struck me. Why not drive home now?! Yes, it's pretty late now, almost midnight, and to be safe, I should stay for the night at the Vista instead... But heck, I really wanna do something crazy then!

And there I go. Packing my stuff, switched on my car engine, insert my The Darkness cassette, and turned on the volume to almost a full blast, racing my way home. Man, that was fun! Reached home in 29 minutes time. But sadly, no one is online to chat with me now that I'm back... Sigh...

Well, guess I'll juz surf around then! Watching Spider Man 2 tomorrow... Heard it is good, but I'm suppresing any expectation now. We'll see tomorrow!

Saturday, July 03, 2004

LOSS

Almost 1 week after the study break, I've finally got my study mood back (known as exam stress by others). Well, thank God for that! Yet, I guess it comes with a price... I have to forgo my 1st visit to Eaglepoint Covenant Fellowship tonight... Well, actually, I CAN go tonight, provided that I study real hard after I return to Vista. But after observing my "studies" after midnight for the past few days, I doubt I could cover much. Isaac Asimov's The Robots of Dawn is juz too tempting, and I have to stay away from the book (i.e. library or student lounge) to escape its claws of temptation.

I guess that I shouldn't have decided to watch Spiderman 2 with my friends on this Sunday after all... Then again, how much could I cover for that 4 or 5 hours lost spent with my friends? Well, I'll nv know. All I know is I can't study much in the morning or early afternoon/evening. Sigh... If only I dun slack off after Summative 2... Then again, I guess it's only natural to be that way, since almost all my friends seems to slacken after Summative 2 too... We're juz exhausted I guess...

Let's hope I can complete my revision at least once before the Finals hits all of us...

Thursday, July 01, 2004

HiLaRiOUs!!!

Sidd has posted this hilarious (I stress the word hilarious "article" (originally a forwarded mail) on his blog... I really really enjoyed it, and I wanna share with all u guys who's reading my blog too!

Oh, the "article" does contain pretty strong language... I'm sorry if it offended u, but I myself am almost as frustrated as the author himself too... Well, hope u guys enjoy it!

* * * * * * * * * * * * *


>Hello, my name is Basmati Kasaar. I am suffering from
>rare and deadly diseases, poor scores on final exams,
>extreme virginity, fear of being kidnapped and
>executed by anal electrocution, and guilt for not
>forwarding out 50 billion fucking chain letters sent
>to me by people who actually believe that if you send
>them on, then that poor fucking 6 year old girl in
>Arkansas with a breast on her forehead will be able to
>raise enough money to have it removed before her
>redneck parents sell her off to the traveling freak
>show.
>
>Do you honestly believe that Bill Gates is going to
>give you and everyone you send his email to $1000? How
>stupid are you? Ooooh, looky here! If I scroll down
>this page and make a wish, I'll get laid by every
>Playboy Bunny in the magazine! What a bunch of fucking
>bullshit.
>
>So basically, this message is a big FUCK YOU to all
>the people out there who have nothing better to do
>than to send me stupid chain mail forwards. Maybe the
>evil chain letter leprechauns will come into my
>apartment and sodomize me in my sleep for not
>continuing the chain which was started by Ceaser in 5
>A.D. and was brought to this country by midget
>pilgrims on the Mayflower and if it makes it to the
>year 2000, it'll be in the Guinness Book of World
>Records for longest continuous streak of blatant
>stupidity.
>
>Fuck them!
>
>If you're going to forward something, at least send me
>something mildly fucking amusing. I've seen all the
>'send this to 50 of your closest friends, and this
>poor, wretched excuse for a human being will somehow
>receive a Nickel from some omniscient being forwards
>about 90 times. I don't fucking care. Show a little
>intelligence and think about what you're actually
>contributing to by sending out forwards. Chances are
>it's your own unpopularity.
>
>
>THE FOUR BASIC TYPES OF CHAIN LETTERS:
>
>Chain Letter Type 1:
>(scroll down)
>
>
>Make a wish!!!
>
>
>
>
>Keep Scrolling
>
>
>
>No, really, go on and make one!!!
>
>
>
>
>
>Oh please, they'll never go out with you!!!
>Wish something else!!!
>
>
>
>
>
>Not that, you pervert!!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>STOP!!!!
>
>
>Wasn't that fun? :)
>Hope you made a great wish :)
>
>
>Now, to make you feel guilty, here's what I'll do.
>First of all, if you don't send this to 5096 people in
>the next 5 seconds, you will be raped by a mad goat
>and thrown off a high building into a pile of manure.
>
>It's true! Because, THIS letter isn't like those fake
>ones, THIS one is TRUE!! Really!!! Here's how it goes:
>
>*Send this to 1 person: One person will be pissed off
>at you for sending them a stupid chain letter.
>
>*Send this to 2-5 people: 2-5 people will be pissed
>off at you for sending them a stupid chain letter.
>
>*Send this to 5-10 people: 5-10 people will be pissed
>off at you for sending them a stupid chain letter, and
>may form a plot on your life.
>
>*Send this to 10-20 people: 10-20 people will be
>pissed off at you for sending them a stupid chain
>letter and will napalm your house. Thanks!!!! Good
>Luck!!!
>
>Chain Letter Type 2
>
>Hello, and thank you for reading this letter. You see,
>there is a starving little boy in
>Baklaliviatatlaglooshen who has no arms, no legs, no
>parents, and no goats. This little boy's life could be
>saved, because for every time you pass this on, a
>dollar will be donated to the Little Starving Legless
>Armless Goatless Boy from Baklaliviatatlaglooshen
>Fund.
>
>Oh, and remember, we have absolutely no way of
>counting the emails sent and this is all a complete
>load of bullshit. So go on, reach out. Send this to 5
>people in the next 47 seconds.
>
>Oh, and a reminder - if you accidentally send this to
>4 or 6 people, you will die instantly.
>
>Thanks again!!
>
>
>Chain Letter Type 3
>
>Hi there!! This chain letter has been in existence
>since 1897. This is absolutely incredible because
>there was no email then and probably not as many sad
>pricks with nothing better to do.
>
>So this is how it works... Pass this on to 15,067
>people in the next 7 minutes or something horrible
>will happen to you like:
>
>*Bizarre Horror Story #1
>Miranda Pinsley was walking home from school on
>Saturday. She had recently received this letter and
>ignored it. She then tripped in a crack in the
>sidewalk, fell into the sewer, was gushed down a
>drainpipe in a flood of poopie, and went flying out
>over a waterfall. Not only did she smell nasty, she
>died. This Could Happen To You!!!
>
>*Bizarre Horror Story #2
>Dexter Bip, a 13 year old boy, got a chain letter in
>his mail and ignored it. Later that day, he was hit by
>a car and so was his boyfriend (hey, some people swing
>that way). They both died and went to hell and were
>cursed to eat adorable kittens every day for eternity.
>
>This Could Happen To You Too!!! Remember, you could
>end up just like Pinsley and Bip. Just send this
>letter to all of your loser friends, and everything
>will be okay.
>
>
>Chain Letter Type 4
>
>As if you care, here is a poem that I wrote.
>Send it to all your friends.
>
>FRIENDS:
>
>A friend is someone who is always at your side.
>
>A friend is someone who likes you even though you
>stink of shit, and your breath smells like you've been
>eating catfood.
>
>A friend is someone who likes you even though you're
>as ugly as a hat full of assholes.
>
>A friend is someone who cleans up for you after you've
>soiled yourself.
>
>A friend is someone who stays with you all night while
>you cry about your sad, sad life.
>
>A friend is someone who pretends they like you when
>they really think you should be raped by mad goats,
>then thrown to vicious dogs.
>
>A friend is someone who scrubs your toilet, vacuums
>and then gets the check and leaves and doesn't speak
>much English...no, sorry that's the cleaning lady.
>
>A friend is NOT someone who sends you chain letters
>because he wants his wish of being rich to come true.
>
>Now pass this on! If you don't, you'll never have sex
>ever again!
>
>
>The point being? If you get some chain letter that's
>threatening to leave you shagless or luckless for the
>rest of your life, delete it. If it's funny, send it
>on. Don't piss people off by making them feel guilty
>about a leper in Karzakistan with no teeth, who's been
>tied to a dead elephant for 27 years, whose only
>savior is the 5 cents per
>letter he'll receive if you forward this mail,
>otherwise you'll end up like Miranda. Right?
>
>
>
>Now forward this to everyone that you know otherwise
>you'll find all your knickers missing tomorrow
>morning!

* * * * * * * * * * * * *